Proselytisation is an integral part of Christian religion. Where the missionaries give with one hand, they expect you to take the other and follow their religion. That missionaries have converted people in third world using the tradional carrot and stick approach is well known but not universally acknowledged Compare that to the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh charities that are open to all religions with no strings attached. Sure there are quite many aspects about Indian religions that can be critisized and rightly so (religion based castisim being one of those and i have been a victim of this in a way). But atleast Indian religions and culture promotes tolerance towards other religions and this has what has kept india intact despite the various centripetal forces in the country over centuries.
Western secularism may induce people of different religions to live side by side, but it doesnt promote respect and tolerance towards other religions (or even cultures). People who embrace this kind of secularism should look at America, where muslims are socially marginalized !
More than secularism what we need to understand is that there is many paths to salvation ! Indians have tradionally understood that, and now that tradition is being replaced by western style secularism which is more harmful to India's social fabric.
I couldnt agree more with Gautier. India must absorb western values as long as they dont destroy India social fabric. Having said that India's gurus and religious pundits and religious police should water down their hateful rheteroic towards other religions and promote communal harmony and tolerance. Why ? Because peaceful co-existence is what being Indian is all about !
